Your collection will not be saved on this site once your current session expires after an hour of inactivity. We will not save any of your browsing history.

The URL above is unique to your current collection. You can share it with others, but it will not be shown anywhere on this site.

You haven’t collected any articles yet.

Click the "Add to Collection" folder next to articles you want to revisit later. Then come back to this folder to see your list of articles, along with the URL to a permanent page we've created so you can view your articles at any time.

Be sure to come here and copy your URL before you leave the site, as your collection will not be saved after you leave.

News & Views

Press Release

Health Insurance Plans Arrive at Shopping Mall in Oregon

Kaiser Permanente opens first retail health plan information center in Pacific Northwest consumers get help with understanding insurance options and how to qualify

PORTLAND, Ore. — As part of Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to improve the health of the community and expand access to high-quality health care, Kaiser Permanente opens its first retail health plan information center in the Pacific Northwest today.

Oct. 1 marks the day that many Americans will have a new option for purchasing private health insurance. The Kaiser Permanente information center, located inside the Washington Square Mall, in Tigard, Ore., is a place for individuals and families to get questions about health insurance answered and help them navigate the complexities of health care reform.

“People who are not currently insured or who are looking to make a change will have a lot of choices to make,” said Dan Woodward, retail marketing lead at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. “We recognize that many folks in our region might not feel entirely comfortable making these decisions without expert guidance and advice in the form of face-to-face assistance. Our licensed staff is available to answer questions about health care reform and help connect shoppers with a plan that’s right for them and their family.”

Online marketplaces or exchanges, such as Cover Oregon and Washington Healthplanfinder allow shoppers to evaluate plans offered by various carriers, determine eligibility for financial assistance and purchase coverage. Shoppers can also determine if they qualify for coverage under a newly expanded Medicaid program. Open enrollment through these programs runs from Oct. 1 to March 31, 2014.

The move into retail channels is a natural progression for Kaiser Permanente Northwest as Oregon, Washington and the nation move toward more consumer involvement in health plan decision-making. Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s retail information center will help consumers evaluate their options and make the best choices for themselves and their families.

For the third year in a row, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest is the top-ranked health plan in Oregon and Washington and this year is the No. 2 private plan in the nation on the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2013-2014.[1]

[1]NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

About Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Kaiser Permanente Northwest is part of America’s leading integrated health care organization. Founded in 1945, the organization serves the health needs of more than 9.1 million people in eight states and the District of Columbia. More than 490,000 people in Oregon and Southwest Washington receive their medical care from Kaiser Permanente, and more than 200,000 people receive dental care. As a nonprofit health plan, Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care, and to improving the health of the communities it serves. For more information, go to kp.org/nw/hospitals. Follow us on Twitter at @kpnorthwest.